Internships and Online Presence

Stat 365: Statistical Communication

Monday, May 20th

Today we will…

  • Housekeeping
    • Feedback/Revisions for Data Viz Narratives
    • Office Hours this week
    • Final Report Template
  • Stat 150 Prompts: Note to Self
  • Research & Job Opportunities in Statistics1
  • Online Presence
  • Build your Resume

Data Viz Narratives: Feedback & Revision Process

  • When working with a quantitative response – show variability! Raw data points, box plots, density plots, histograms, error bars, etc.

  • Accessibility – color choices, double encode, #| fig-alt: "alt text here."

  • Put the key take-away in the title!

    • e.g., Instead of “How does childcare cost differ between infants and toddlers”, state “Childcare costs for infants is breaking the bank!”

Pay attention to the details! I am fairly picky about table and plot design, keep this in mind for your final report.

Office Hours this Week

  • Today (Monday), 5/20, at 11:10 - 12pm
  • Tomorrow (Tuesday), 5/21, at 2:10pm - 4pm
  • No office hours Wednesday and Thursday – I will be out of town visiting family.

Stat 150 Prompt: Note to Self

Write (and/or draw) a note to your future self (to be opened in Spring quarter of your second year), addressing among other questions,

  • Why did you choose Cal Poly?
  • Why did you choose Statistics?
  • What are your goals and hopes for your time at Cal Poly?
  • Anything else…

Research at Cal Poly

  • Office of Undergraduate Research
  • Frost Fund
    • 2017 William & Linda Frost gifted a CSU-record $110 million to BCSM including student scholarships and research stipends
  • Frost Scholars
  • Frost Summer Research Students

Frost Scholar

  • Scholarship to support undergrads in conducting original research that is capable of publication and/or presentation
    • Currently $10,000/yr for 10 hours/week (except during finals)
    • Typically 2 year period starting with the student’s third year (though exceptions possible) and transfer students eligible
    • Guaranteed summer research with $4500 (current) Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Award
    • Dr. Schaffner will send out an email about the application late Fall or early Winter
  • Reach out to Faculty you are interested in working with!
  • Take time to figure out what faculty interests are
  • Submit application jointly with faculty mentor by February

Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

  • Professional development program for undergrads to learn and develop research skills through intensive, summer research experience and hands-on engagement
    • Currently $4,500 for 8 weeks full-time summer research (~40 hours/week)
    • Frost Coordinator and/or Dr. Schaffner will send out an email about the application late Winter or early Spring
    • Deadline for submission is usually during Winter quarter
  • A variety of projects will be put forth by a handful of faculty
    • Reach out to the faculty members with interesting projects
    • You will then be asked to rate your project options in your application

Why Join Frost? … Why not?? Immense value!

  • Hands on experience with REAL projects not seen in class
  • Opportunities to present your findings at research conferences across the world (potentially partially funded by Frost)
    • You will be required to present your work at the Frost Symposium in Fall quarter and at the BCSM Student Research conference in Spring quarter
  • Friendships developed from the joint experience with other Frost SURP students and lots of extracurricular activities
  • This experience can help you find out what interests you and what you want to do in your professional careers.
  • There are so many more…

Frost 2023 SURP students getting ready to deploy equipment for data collection

2022 BCSM Student Research Conference

REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) + SIBS (Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Data Science)

What is an REU?

  • A summer research program for undergraduate students funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
  • An REU consists of ~10 undergrads working on a research project at a host institution.
    • Each student is typically assigned to a research group and works closely with faculty and other students.
  • Students receive stipends and (often) assistance with housing and travel.
  • REUs typically last about 8-12 weeks during the summer.
    • In addition to research, REUs typically include fun activities.

What is SIBS?

  • A summer research program for undergraduate students funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
  • These programs are often larger than REUs (more students). SIBS programs combine classroom learning, career development, and participation in a research project.
    • These research topics focus on biostatistics!
    • They will also include fun activities and outings!
  • Students receive stipends and (often) assistance with housing and travel.
  • SIBS programs typically last about 6-7 weeks during the summer.

Finding and Applying to REUs + SIBS Programs

  • Use the NSF REU website.
    • Go to Mathematical Sciences and look for statistics-related projects.
    • Can search by keyword: “statistics”, “data science”, etc.
  • Use the SIBS website.
  • You apply to each REU or SIBS program separately.
    • You will find information about eligibility and applications on each site’s website.
    • Start looking late Fall and early Winter!
  • NOTE: Students supported with NSF or NIH funds must be US citizens or permanent residents.
    • Some programs do have other funding available!

Why do an REUs or SIBS Program?

You want to…

  • get research experience to see if you like it.
  • see what statistics looks like outside of the classroom.
  • connect with statistics nerds from around the country/world.
  • get experience presenting your research at conferences.
  • try living outside of CA.

Dr. Rehnberg presenting REU work at JMM 2016.

Dr. Rehnberg at Carowinds amusement park during NCSU SIBS 2013.

Internships

What does it look like to have an internship?

There is a lot of variability in internship experiences…😄🥱🤩🙄😐

  • Summer? School year? Part time? Full time?
  • Move? Remote?
  • Paid? Unpaid? – most in statistics should be paid!
  • Goals – Project specific? Entering data?
  • Is there a formal company internship program? Other interns? All statistics?
  • Who is your supervisor? How often do you meet with them? Are you on a team?
  • But all will give you a little more “real world” experience and insight into what you like or don’t like!

Finding internships… statistics specific

Finding internships… company specific

Applying to internships

  • Look early (October - February) and continuously!
  • Boost your online presence and showcase your work on…
  • Have personal projects to talk about during interviews…
  • Keep your resume simple and clean (will chat more Wednesday!)

Why do an internship?

  • It will often lead to continuous part-time work, a returning summer internship, or even a full time job offer for after graduation.
  • You get to test out what a typical “9 to 5” feels like. Many companies now have flexible hours and/or remote work.
  • You will likely get paid….well.
  • Networking!!!
  • You might end up living and working among student interns from various institutions and majors!

Dr. Robinson on a factory tour for John Deere while interning for the company.

Dr. Robinson on a slow pitch softball league with other interns for the same company.

Reference Letter Writers

  • Ask professors you feel know you well (or previous employers).
  • Give them at least 2 weeks heads up.
  • Provide them:
    • Resume
    • Link to job posting
    • Any additional relevant information

Build Your Resume

To do

CP 2: Storyboarding

  • Group submission by TONIGHT, May 20th at 11:59pm

Wednesday, May 22nd: Career Services visit

Build Your Resume

  • Draft for peer review (optional) due Sunday, 5/26 at 11:59pm
  • Peer review feedback (optional)
    • opens Monday, 5/27 at 8am
    • feedback due Tuesday, 5/28 at 11:59pm
  • Final Submission due Sunday, 6/2 at 11:59pm

Data Narrative Visualization

  • Work toward live revisions by 5/31